Method and apparatus for producing sheet glass



Jan. 19, 19 32.-

FRASER 1,841,527

METHOD ANDYAPPARATUS FOR PRODUCING SHEET GLASS Filed March '7, 1930 gwoentox 3 E Vr: E

Patented Jan. 19, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- FRANK FRASER, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOB 'lTO LEBEY-OWENS-FOBD GLASS COMPANY, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING SHEET GLASS Application filed March 7, 1930. Serial No. 433,929.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for producing sheet glass.

While this invention is here shown and describedwith a machine of the type disclosed in the patent to I. W. Colburn, No. 1,248,809,

granted December 4, 1917, it is of course not necessarily restricted to use in connection therewith as it can well be adapted to other types of sheet forming apparatus. In such machine, however, a glass sheet is continuously drawn upwardly from abath of molten glass and after becoming substantially set, although while still in a semi-plastic condition, is deflected into the horizontal plane and then passedhorizontally through a combined drawing and flattening mechanism into and through an annealing leer.

An important object of the invention resides in the provision of a method and apparatus for removing surface defects or irregularities in the drawn sheet whereby a flat, smooth and uniform thickness of sheet 4 may be produced.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a method and apparatus wherein the sheet, during the deflecting thereof from the vertical to the horizontal, is dragged over suitable means which effects the smoothing or flattening out of irregularities in the surfaces thereof.

Another object of the invention is the pro- I vision of a method and apparatus wherein the opposite surfaces of the sheet are simultaneously submitted during the deflectingthereofto a wiping or smoothing action to flatten or iron out any surface irregularities present therein.

A further object of the invention is the provision of such a method and apparatusas described above wherein the sheet may also, if desired, be brought into engagement with means positioned at the base or meniscus thereof and which are adapted to engage opposite surfaces of theglass for minimizmg the formation of waves or surface 1r-' regularities in said sheet during the formation thereof.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent during the course of the following description when Suitable knurled rolls 10 or the like may be taken in connect-ion with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

' Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through sheet glass apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a portion thereof, and

' Fig. 3 is a view of an alternative arrangement.

In the apparatus disclosed, a sheet 5 is drawn upwardly from a mass of molten glass 6 contained in a Working receptacle or drawpot 7 and supplied thereto from any suitable type of furnace. The sheet is drawn upwardly for a suitable distance and is then deflected into-a horizontal plane as indicated at 5a where it is run over a draw, table 8 and on into and through a suitable-anneal ing leer (not shown), said sheet being supported between its point of deflection and the draw table by a so-called idler roll 9.

provided to engage opposite sides of the sheet at the edges thereof for maintaining the sheet to width. 4

In the Colburn process, the sheet is usually deflected from the vertical to the horizontal over a rotatable bending roll. However,

in accordance with the present invention, the rotatable bending roll is omitted and substituted in lieu thereof is a stationary member 11. This member is in the-form of a hollow, substantially rectangular casing provided at one of its corners with a laterally offset curved portion 12 extending the entire length thereof and over which the sheet is deflected. This member, or at least that portion coming into contact with the sheet, is preferably highly polished and formed from a suitable I non-corrosive metal'such as nickel, nichrome, Monel, or the like so that the sheet may be dragged thereover to flatten the same without-injury to its'surface. ,The member 11 is adapted to be internally cooled by the circulation of a suitable temperature control medium therethrough suchas, for example,

water-,air or the like. The member 11 will support the sheet during the bending thereof and will, at the same time, produce a wiping or smoothing action thereupon which will have a tendency to flatten or iron out any surface irregularities or defects therein and thus make smooth and uniform its surface.

I so

The member 11 is preferably provided at each end thereof with a reduced cylindrical extension or trunnion 13 supported by a bracket 1 1 which is inclined to the vertical, as best shown in Fig. 1, and maintained in a fixed position by a supporting member 15.

There is further provided, in accordance with the present invention, a stationary member 16 which is also in the form of a hollow, substantially rectangular casing and which is rovided at one corner with a laterally 0 set curved portion 17 adapted to engage the sheet at a point substantially opposite the point of contact of the member 11 therewith to the end that both surfaces of the sheet may be treated simultaneously to a wiping or smoothing action. The member 16 is likewise adapted to be internally cooled and is provided at each end thereof with a reduced cylindrical extension 18 carried by a block 19 slidably mounted within the bracket 14. The member 16 is normally urged toward member 11 and into contact with the sheet by means of a spring 20 at each end thereof. However, the inward movement of the member 16 is controlled by means of a nut 21 engaging the bolt 22 carried by the block 19 at each end thereof and projecting through the outer end of the respective bracket 14:. Thus, while the member 16 is yieldably urged toward member 11,

it can be readily moved away therefrom to permit the passage of any, foreign matter such as stones or other clay particles therebetween and thereb prevent injury to the highly polished sur aces of said members.

The member 16, like memberll, is adapted to effect a wiping action upon the adjacent surface of the sheet to iron out any surface irregularities therein. Thus, the members 11 and 16 cooperate with one another in removing the irregularities or defects from opposite surfaces of the sheet during thedeecting thereof so that a good flat, smooth and uniform thickness of sheet is produced. It will be noted that the offset portions 12 and 17 of members 11 and 16 respectively are arcuately curved transversely and further that the member 16 has substantially line contact with the sheet.

Referring to Fig. 3, the arrangement disclosed therein is substantially the same as that illustrated in Fig. 1, with the exception that the sheet width maintaining rollers 10 are omitted and there are substituted therefor the members 23 and 2s. These members are positioned to engage opposite surfaces of the sheet at the base or meniscus 27 thereof andextend throughout the entire width of said sheet. These members are in the form of substantially rectangular hollow casings through which a suitable temperature control medium is adapted to be circulated, the inner adjacent side walls 25 and 26 of said members being arcuately curved transversely so that the lower portions thereof it substantially into the curvature of the sheet meniscus. These members not only serve to maintain the sheet to width, but are also adapted to havea wiping or smoothing action upon opposite surfaces of the glass as it is drawn upwardly therebetween so as to minimize the formation of waves or other surface irregularities in the sheet during the formation thereof.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as the preferred embodiment of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. In sheet glass apparatus, means for drawing a sheet upwardly from a bath of molten glass, and a stationary member over which said sheet is deflected from the vertical into a horizontal plane, said member being in the form of a; hollow substantially rectangular casing having a laterally offset curved portion in contact with and over which said sheet is deflected.

2. In sheet glass apparatus wherein the sheet is drawn upwardly and then deflected into a horizontal plane, stationary members engaging opposite surfaces of the sheet during the deflecting thereof for producing a wiping action thereon to smooth or iron out any surface irregularities therein.

3. In sheet glass apparatus, means for drawing a sheet upwardly from a bath of molten glass, a stationary member over which said sheet is deflected from the vertical into a horizontal plane, and a second stationary member engaging the opposite surface of the sheet during the deflecting thereof and cooperating with the first member to iron out or smooth out surface irregularities in said sheet.

4. In sheet glass apparatus, means for drawing a sheet upwardly from a bath of molten glass, a stationary member over which said sheet is deflected from the vertical into a horizontal plane, and a second stationary member engaging the opposite surface of the sheet during the deflecting thereof and cooperating with the first member to iron or smooth out surface irregularities in the sheet, each of said members being in the form of a hollow substantially rectangular casing hav-. ing a laterally-offset curved portion in contact with-the sheet.

5. The method of producing sheet glass, which consists in drawin a sheet upwardly from a mass of molten g ass, deflecting the sheet from the vertical mto a substantially horizontal plane, dragging the sheet during the bending thereof over non-corrosive means to'flatten the same, and in simultaneously submitting the opposite surfaces 'of the sheet to a wiping or smoothing action.

6. The method of producing sheet glass,

which consists in drawing a sheet upwardly from a mass of molten lass, deflecting the sheet from the vertical mto a substantially horizontal plane, and in simultaneousl submittin opposite surfaces of the sheet uring the de ecting thereof to a wiping or smoothin action.

' In sheet glass apparatus, means for drawing a sheet upwardly from a bath of molten lass, a stationary member about which said sheet is deflected from .the 'yertical'into aixhorizontal plane, a second sgation ar mem r a gt eopposite sur aceo th sheet du i' i n i'li e deflecting thereof and cooperating with the first member to iron or smooth out surface irre ularities in said sheet, and means for yieldab urging one of said members toward theot er member and into contact with the sheet.

8. In sheet glass apparatus, means for drawing a sheet upwardly from a bath of molten glass, a stationary member about which said sheet is deflected from the vertical into a horizontal plane, a second sta- 5 tionar member engaging the opposite surface 0 the sheet durln the deflectmg thereof and cooperating with t e first member to iron or smooth out surface irregularities in said sheet means for yieldably urgin one of said 49 mem ers' toward the other mem r and into contact with the sheet, and means for moving one of said members toward and away from-the other member.

Si ed at Toledo, in the county of Lucas and tate of Ohio, this 5th day 'of March,

FRANK FRASER. 

